Got Trees? Remove Invasive Species This Winter!

Summary

• Tree removal in winter saves money, limits disease spread, and sets up a healthy spring garden.
• Invasive trees like the Norway maple, Callery pear, Fishpole bamboo, and Siberian elm should be removed.
• The Ailanthus tree is a supervillain of the tree world, growing quickly and damaging surroundings.

Trees provide shade, beauty, and tranquility, but some can grow a little big for their britches and become invasive. When is a good time for tree removal? During the winter! Although winter tree removal might seem an odd time to do it, you'd be surprised! You can set up your garden for a fruitful spring.

The question becomes, which trees stay and which go? The trees you should remove are invasive, but they don't look any different from non-invasive trees. Don't miss a rundown of trees that are invasive all over the nation, from New England to the West Coast, to capitalize on the best time of year to remove trees.

Why Remove Trees in the Winter?

There are more pros than cons

Removing trees in winter can be a big help to not only your wallet, but your landscape as well.

• The trees have shed all their branches and leaves, reducing cleanup time after removal.
• It can limit the spread of disease.
• You can find the cheapest tree removal available, because most people don't consider this service during the cold months.
• You can set the stage for a beautiful, flourishing garden in the spring.
• Tree roots could cause foundational and structural damage to your property if they grow close enough.

1 Norway Maple Tree: Shady All the Way

No way should you keep the Norway maple

The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) may look like a lovely tree to provide shade on your property, but it's an invasive beast. That's especially true across the Pacific Northwest and Northeastern US, where some states have some serious spread of this tree, including:

• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Maine

How does it grow so much so fast? Its seeds don't have to travel far, so animals can collect them and spread them, as can an especially blustery day. Before you know it, there are Norway maples here, there, and everywhere.

Of all the trees you should remove, this one can tug at the heartstrings because of its beauty, but there are advantages to its wintertime removal, such as:

• More space in your yard (these trees can grow up to 60 feet tall!) for growing other trees or plants.
• More sunlight, as Norway maple foliage spreads densely and limits the amount of light you get in your front or backyard. In turn you can have healthier grass, as it also receives more light so it can grow.

2 Callery Pear Tree: Deceptively Pretty

Parting with this pear tree isn't such sweet sorrow

Originating in Asia, the Callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana) landed on American soil sometime in the 1900s, and the rest is history. Now, more than 100 years later, it's considered an invasive species.

It's gotten bad enough that the tree is already banned in several states:

• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• With Kansas to potentially join the list

If the problem is serious enough that the tree is outright banned, the Callery pear should go to the top of the list of trees you should remove this winter. Callery pear trees grow densely together, hogging up space that grasslands need to thrive. The trees also harbor birds like starlings that can disrupt the food chain of the grassland wildlife.

Now, it might seem disappointing to get rid of a flowering fruit like the Callery pear, but this should help you feel better. The fruits this tree produces aren't edible, so you're not missing out on a potential food source.

When Callery pear trees open up their blooms, the air doesn't fill with a pleasing aroma. Instead, the smell is likened to rotten fish, and it can linger for a long time, usually until the flowers fully bloom and fall off.

3 Fishpole Bamboo: So Invasive, It's Banned

You're fishing for trouble if you keep this tree

Although it's known as golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), a fishpole bamboo tree is not a sign of good fortune. It's one of many invasive trees in the bamboo family, and this one has a surprisingly far reach. Based on a map provided courtesy of the University of Maryland, fishpole bamboo grows prevalently across the southern US, in states like:

• California
• Hawaii
• Texas
• Florida
• North Carolina

It's even made its way up to the East Coast, although it's far less numerous there. Still, fishbone bamboo is one of the most harrowing trees you should remove if you have one in your yard.

Is tree removal cheaper in winter? It is indeed, so you can save some cash and remove invasive trees at the same time. Think of full removal as winter tree care, as you're allowing other trees to thrive in place of the bamboo.

4 Tree of Heaven: Only, Not So Much

No heaven can be found here

Like the golden bamboo causes confusion with its sweet-sounding name, the nickname for the Ailanthus altissima, tree of heaven, belies its invasive status. The widespread tree crops up across North America (especially the Mid-Atlantic) and even in parts of Europe, although it originates in Taiwan and China.

Wondering when is a good time for tree removal? As soon as you spot an Ailanthus. The Ailanthus is one of the worst invasive trees, making it worthwhile to seek the cheapest tree removal and get it off your property, stat.

• The tree grows large (50 to 90 feet) quickly (it only takes a few years) and has dense foliage that blocks other trees and plants growing near it.
• It produces many seeds, allowing it to continue growing once it settles into an area.
• Its roots could damage buildings like workplaces and homes if in proximity.
• Spotted lanternflies produce eggs in this tree.
• It produces ailantone, a chemical that Ailanthus releases into the soil, where it can inihibit the growth of and possibly kill other plants nearby.
• It does not produce a pleasant smell.

The Ailanthus altissima is like the supervillian of the tree world. There are other trees that are bad, but few as bad as this one!

5 Siberian Elm: It Wants to Conquer

A tall and monstrous tree in any landscape

The long branches of the Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) are a testament to how quickly this plant can spread. The deciduous tree with open crowns can reach heights of 90 feet if left to grow. The dark gray bark may look appealing, but this elm is one on the list of trees you should remove before spring.

You might not feel too broken up about winter tree removal once you learn more about this invasive species. The Siberian elm sneaks its way into low-moisture areas lacking quality soil. Once there, it germinates and can take over. What's worse, identifying this tree is hard because the Siberian elm is crafty and cross-pollinates with any elms in its path.

Minnesota has a bad case of Siberian elms, but they're not the only one. It's also spread mightily across the Midwest, creating problems with its presence.

Cankerworms, aphids, and elm leaf beetles are three insect species commonly associated with Siberian elms. The tree is known for being a pest attractant.

6 Empress Tree: A Tyrannical Queen

No queen for rare plant and tree species

It has a name fit for royalty (it's also nicknamed the princess tree), but the empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a pauper in disguise. The Chinese tree, which reaches sizes of up to 60 feet, has become a problem in the eastern US. It's such a thorn in the sides of homeowners that Connecticut no longer allows the tree to be sold within its state borders.

So, what's the problem with the empress tree that has won it such scorn? It's scarily fast-growing, for starters, bumping out plants and trees native to the area. It also pops up in interesting areas like riparian zones where rare plants are usually found. The tree has no problems edging out the uncommon species.

Although its purple flowers are appealing and have an equally nice aroma, seeing an empress tree is one of the top reasons why you should remove trees in winter. You don't want them growing rampant in the spring!

Invasive Trees, Begone From the Yard!

The best time of year to remove trees is now, so take advantage and plan your winter tree care!

Is tree removal cheaper in winter? It is, and the demand is lower, allowing you to get invasive species like the empress tree, fishpole bamboo, or the especially egregious Ailanthus altissma off your property. If you still need reasons to remove trees in winter, just think about all the extra space you'll have for planting in the spring.

The best time of year to remove trees is now, so take advantage and plan your winter tree care!